DONOR PAYS LATE UTILITY BILLS

Brenda Wall, city treasurer, said a man who wished to remain anonymous paid $250 toward three families' utility bills. The three families had been sent shut-off notices that would have taken effect the week after Christmas.The man did not want to know the names of the families. "He just said, `Tell them their bill has been paid and merry Christmas,' " Wall said.

Wall said the treasurer's office chose three families with young children that have had a difficult time paying their utility bills.